Modelling the effect of the radiation reaction force on the acceleration of ultra-thin foils

Duff, M. J. and Capdessus, R. and King, M. and Del Sorbo, D. and Ridgers, C. P. and McKenna, P.; Korn, Georg and Silva, Luis O., eds. (2017) Modelling the effect of the radiation reaction force on the acceleration of ultra-thin foils. In: Proc. SPIE 10241, Research Using Extreme Light. Proceedings of SPIE . SPIE, Bellingham, WA. (https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2267424)

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Abstract

An investigation of the effects of the radiation reaction force on radiation pressure acceleration is presented. Through 1D(3V) PIC code simulations, it is found that radiation reaction causes a decrease in the target velocity during the interaction of an ultra-intense laser pulse with a solid density thin foil of varying thickness. This change in the target velocity can be related to the loss of backwards-directed electrons due to cooling and reflection in the laser field. The loss of this electron population changes the distribution of the emitted synchrotron radiation. We demonstrate that it is the emission of radiation which leads to the observed decrease in target velocity. Through a modification to the light sail equation of motion (which is used to describe radiation pressure acceleration in thin foils), which accounts for the conversion of laser energy to synchrotron radiation, we can describe this change in target velocity. This model can be tested in future experiments with ultra-high intensity lasers, and will lead to a better understanding of the process of relativistically induced transparency in the new intensity regime.

ORCID iDs

Duff, M. J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0745-0157, Capdessus, R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3403-6023, King, M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3370-6141, Del Sorbo, D., Ridgers, C. P. and McKenna, P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8061-7091; Korn, Georg and Silva, Luis O.
  • Item type:Book Section
    ID code:61540
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    20 June 2017
    Published
    22 April 2017
    Accepted
    7 April 2017
    Submitted
    Notes:Copyright 2017 Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:10 Aug 2017 10:22
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 15:09
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/61540
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